Cristiano Ronaldo vs Lionel Messi: Lionel Messi has turned 37, reminding us that he’s approaching the final stretch of his astonishing career. But how do his numbers stack up against his eternal rival Cristiano Ronaldo at the same age?
Ronaldo is a couple of years older than Messi, having turned 37 back in February 2022 while he was still at Manchester United.
It’s a testament to the two players’ longevity that they’re both still performing at a high level and playing in major international tournaments at an age when many footballers would have already decided to hang up their boots.
Cristiano Ronaldo vs Lionel Messi: Continuing to Defy Age
Career Records at Age 37

Lionel Messi at 37
Statistic | Value |
---|---|
Games | 1065 |
Minutes played | 87,492 |
Goals | 837 |
Assists | 374 |
Penalties scored | 109 |
Hat-tricks | 57 |
Free-kicks scored | 65 |
Minutes per goal | 104.5 |
Minutes per non-penalty goal | 120.1 |
Minutes per goal or assist | 72.2 |
Read also: Lionel Andres Messi’s Biography, Net Worth in 2024 Wiki, BIO, Salary, Age, Retirement, Wife
Cristiano Ronaldo at 37

Statistic | Value |
---|---|
Games | 1103 |
Minutes played | 89,754 |
Goals | 803 |
Assists | 230 |
Penalties scored | 143 |
Hat-tricks | 58 |
Free-kicks scored | 57 |
Minutes per goal | 111.7 |
Minutes per non-penalty goal | 135.9 |
Minutes per goal or assist | 86.88 |

Cristiano Ronaldo vs Lionel Messi: A Comparison
Statistic | Lionel Messi | Cristiano Ronaldo |
Games | 1065 | 1103 |
Minutes played | 87,492 | 89,754 |
Goals | 837 | 803 |
Assists | 374 | 230 |
Penalties scored | 109 | 143 |
Hat-tricks | 57 | 58 |
Free-kicks scored | 65 | 57 |
Minutes per goal | 104.5 | 111.7 |
Minutes per non-penalty goal | 120.1 | 135.9 |
Minutes per goal or assist | 72.2 | 86.88 |
Key Comparisons
- Games and Minutes Played:
- Messi has played 1065 games, slightly fewer than Ronaldo’s 1103.
- Ronaldo has more minutes on the field, totaling 89,754 compared to Messi’s 87,492.
- Goals and Assists:
- Messi leads in goals with 837, while Ronaldo has 803.
- Messi has significantly more assists (374) compared to Ronaldo’s 230.
- Efficiency:
- Messi scores a goal every 104.5 minutes, while Ronaldo scores every 111.7 minutes.
- For non-penalty goals, Messi’s frequency is every 120.1 minutes, compared to Ronaldo’s 135.9 minutes.
- Combining goals and assists, Messi contributes every 72.2 minutes, ahead of Ronaldo’s 86.88 minutes.
- Specialty Stats:
- Ronaldo edges Messi in penalties scored, with 143 to Messi’s 109.
- Messi has more free-kicks scored (65) than Ronaldo (57).
- Both players have a similar number of hat-tricks, with Ronaldo at 58 and Messi at 57.
Conclusion: Cristiano Ronaldo vs Lionel Messi
Wow, Messi and Ronaldo! They’ve been amazing to watch, haven’t they? Every year they leave us speechless with their mind-blowing skills. It’s incredible that even at 37, Messi is still a magician on the field. His passing is unreal, and he can still score like nobody’s business!
Ronaldo is just a different beast. He’s a goal machine with nerves of steel, especially on penalties. It’s crazy how he keeps scoring so many year after year.
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